It's 4-way tie between:

Lindsay, Lucy, Paul B in N'orlins, and Jeff H. All of them got to [tos] in 5 clicks via the same route:

whatchamcallit > 1978 > John Tartaglia > Avenue Q > Vinyard Theater > [title of show]

Here's your new challenge (with a twist):

Fishish at [title of show]'s page and start at the page for Brandywine tomato (one of the cultivars I'm growing on my fire escape right now).
The only requirement is that somewhere along your path, you must also hit the page for Chubby Checker's "The Twist".

Please don't get fired from your job doing these. Due date for submissions is next Friday. That'll give you something to do while you're at your aunt's house not wanting to participate in the backyard activities involving kids with sparklers and drunk uncles (or "druncles").

Last night I was Hunter's date to Romeo and Juliet at the Delacorte. For those of you who have not seen Shakespeare in the park and you live in NYC - what are you waiting for? It really is one of the top ten greatest things about New York. I suppose you'll pressure me to come up with the other 9, so I'll have to get to work on that.

This is pretty remarkable production of R&J with some top-notch acting. But the most amazing thing about it is that nature is part of the show. The breeze picks up at any random moment. Hunter and I were laughing about how the breeze happened exactly on 3 scene shifts in a row. We were wondering if mother nature was perhaps the Production Stage Mangager. Then during the whole balcony scene with all the refences to the moon - Romeo and Juliet are looking up and refering to the ACTUAL waxing moon just overhead. So amazing. Ya can't do that inside the Minskoff.

Consider this my official proposal for The Public to mount a revival of The Golden Apple in the park. Can you imagine if they got a real hot air balloon to fly over the audience and land on the freakin' stage!? And come on, the "Departure to Rhododendron" act 1 finale could have a real boat that shoves off into the duck pond behind the stage! And in "Doomed, Doomed, Doomed" they could launch an actual rocket! The show practically directs itself! Christopher Gattelli, if you're reading this -- get to work on making this happen!

Let this inspire you:

Stay on for the outtakes at the end.

So if you aren't doing anything tonight, maybe you can fly to Oklahoma to see our tosser Courtney who is very fancy and opening in a big production of Oklahoma! She will be rocking out as Ado Annie and reports are that she is tearing it up! Good work Courtney. Wish we could all be there.

While on the Oklahoma! subject, I want you all to check out this read. I loved this book. Partly because I am a nerdle, and partly because it was like a little time-machine that reminded me that Oklahoma! didn't just pop out this hit. They had struggles and fights and worried producers. The show opens with an old woman churning butter people! So we may view a show like this as old fashioned but what R&H were trying to do in those shows rocked. Them two were smart and crazy and pushing the envelope. So while you're enjoying Knocked Up and Transformers, pick that book up for a summer read. Me likey.

In other news, Jeff and I are off to Central Park tonight to check out R&J. One of my favorite things about living in NYC is free Shakes in the park. Even if the show blows a little, it's free! And on certain nights with a big moon, a nice summer breeze, and all different kinds of people there watching, there have been moments of perfection for me. Not necessarily because of what's happening onstage, but because of what Papp created and what still lives on. Making it possible for everyone to experience live theatre. Me likey.

Break a Leg Court!

All right kiddies your next Wickiclick challenge is harder and has one rule...

Start at the page for Whatchamacallit and find your way to [title of show].

Restrictions: You can not use a disambiguation link at the top of a page.

You have until Friday at midnight to come up with the shortest route. Play baw!

Totally losing it is hysterical to me:

Thanks for passing this on, Tom. Good Stuff.

We got a shit load of responses to the Wikiclicks game. Many were quite hysterical including Susan's brother John who's first attempt was 8 clicks and I'm loving his path:

New York Yankees > Harry Frazee > No, No Nanette > Musical comedy > Off-Broadway > Altar Boyz > NYMF > [tos]

Harry Frazee to No No Nanette is awesome.

Several folks including Shelli and Max and came in second with a 6-steps pathway.

But the Winner is Sam who made it from Cal Ripken, Jr. to [title of show] in just 5 clicks!

New York Yankees > Damn Yankees > Kiss Me, Kate > Michael Berresse > [title of show]

Arqueete and some of her co-workers played their own version of the game starting with the page for "Angel". Here were the results:

Angels > Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints > Jesus > The Da-Vinci Code > Hans Zimmer > Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End > Keith Richards > Billie Holiday > Louis Armstrong > Hello Dolly! (film) > Tony Award > Off Broadway > Spring Awakening > Spring Awakening (musical) > Eugene O'Neill Theatre > Broadway (New York City) > Broadway
theatre > A Chorus Line > Michael Berresse > [title of show]

Thanks for playing. Congrats to Sam. New challenge soon.

I have an excellent dad. His name is Fred Blackwell.

Here he is:
Fred Blackwell Then
Fred Blackwell Now

In addition to his other gifts, my father is a writer who will not be convinced of his talents. I think he's the total bomb! In honor of Fathers Day, I'd like to share one of his poems.

The Fall
by Fred Blackwell

In the warm, dry sun of late September
The full ripe crops of harvest look to Fall
The Walnut, bared, stands undressed for slumber
It yawns and stretches out its limbs so tall
Where still some green husked nuts cling to the tree
Unwilling travelers, they refuse to go
Till patient gravity has set them free
Then they come singing to the mold below
And with a hop, skip, jump roll silent—hiding
Lest by December’s snows they all be gone
Some gathered, some wasted and some biding
To spring to life anew come Summer’s song

In silence I sit, mid shadows, watching
From my white roofed twilight porch of years
And I feel my soul pulled down, still resisting
The fell, relentless gravity of tears
I ask, “Why cling so to this tree of life?
Both frightened and unwilling to go down?”
Best, like the falling seed give up the strife
To lose one’s grip and plummet to the ground
And with a cry, gasp, flop—roll silent—sighing
Shuck off one’s husk and seek that joy sublime
That habit teaches comes by our dying
As we spring forth in endless Summertime

Thoughtful I sit, observing this day die
Mid emeralds, rubies, silver, gold and brass
Waft from the door a fresh baked apple pie
A singing bird, the smell of new mown grass
A friend’s happy hello, the sound of life
The laugh and squeal of children at their play
Then from the kitchen door comes my sweet wife
We’ll share the pink washed sky of ending day
I’ve known more good than ever I’ve known strife
I’ve had more joy then ever suffered woe
It’s not from fear that I cling to this life
But life holds me and will not let me go

I love you, dad!

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.00. Go directly to this.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/

And if it's not playing where you live, buy the soundtrack on ITunes.

I mean it.

this...

From a myspace fan...

To whom it may concern:
I am contacting you in hopes that you will join forces with fellow tossers everywhere in crusading to bring our beloved Heidi and Larry back to the [title of show] blog. While we respect the fact that they are busy being superstars other places- we, the [tos] fans, feel as if our needs are being neglected and pushed aside for bigger and better things. We need our vivacious belter and skilled musical director to fill the void that has grown in our hearts. We miss the witty banter, the meaningless videos, and the shared memories.
To act on this cause, I have taken it upon myself to spread a petition around the myspace community. If you would like to take part in this petition and add your name to the list of folks hoping to bring these two bitches back- just respond to this message with simply stating your name and/or a reason why you miss Heidi and Larry.
Thank you for your time.


OK, before this gets out of hand, I thought I would stop the madness and reach out and blog for gosh sakes.

It's true. I have been Under The Sea lately and I've been a little preoccupied with learning how to not fall on my ass in Heelys, (that are now officially named Mer-Blades by the way - get it?), but I've been wanting to blog so bad it hurts. I swear. It's just a little complicated... Hunter and I had a conversation about this the other day, and we agreed that It's a little tricky using the [title of show] blog to talk about other lovers we're sleeping with. Am I right ladies? You get my point. When you're doing a new show, it has a tendency to eat you alive and you have nothing else to talk about. I hate those people, but I have to face that I'm one of them right now. AND, there's a lot of really tantalizing shit I could tell you about, but this just isn't the right forum. Not this place. Not this blog. We'll have to put it on stage in [tos] version 10.0 where even more Broadway dirty laundry is aired.

Here's what I can tell you. I'm having a really great time in a big new splashy show, but I always miss my [tos] family. The new folks I'm working with are really wonderful both on and off stage, but I always miss my [tos] family. I get to wear the most beautiful costumes and have shoes that are cobbled for my very own ugly feet, but I always miss my [tos] family. It's so weird. I ran into Larry and Michael (Berresse) today at Vynl Diner on my lunch break, and the second I saw them I felt like I could breathe again. I was so relieved. Maybe that's just how you feel when you get around people you love and trust, but I feel like it's more than that. There really is something to our little tribe. There's something very magical about that chemistry. There's no need to impress the brass, 'cause in our world, the brass is... us. We know each other pretty frickin' well. We know our strengths and our foibles. We know how to push each others buttons and how to protect each other from the dirtiest vampires. I feel so lucky to know that I've experienced that at least once in my career, where art and friendship met and made a beautiful baby.

So, there's no need to start a petition people. I'm here! But thanks for caring. That felt good...

There. Larry, you're up.

This has been emailed to me by five different people. It makes me laugh and cringe and then laugh again. The people have spoken. It must be posted.

So it's Friday, you're ready for the weekend, you're doing your morning [tos] blog check, you prolly need to see...

this.

Come on. When I look at that, I know deep down that it's all gonna be okay.

Good work on the Cal Ripken, Jr. Wikiclick competition. A lot of you are submitting through myspace and we are receiving your entries. Good jorb. Keep 'em coming.

So Rachel from myspace if you read this blog, I am answering your request. The myspace rules says we aren't friends and that [tos] cannot send you mail so answering your ? here. Check out the FAQ section for info on how to get "Secondary Characters" sheet music. I hope you guys rock that duet out. And see [tossers], we do tend to our fan mail. It may take a moment or two but we try to get to ya. So, send away peeps...send away!

Here's a game I think I invented. I say, "I think" because surely someone else has thought of it and or plays it with himself or friends... It involves our good friend, Wikipedia. Some of you may recall my blog entry from earlier this year about Wiki and how easy and fun it is to jump around with all the groovy links.

So here's how you play. Pick anything/anyone/any place from history, etc and you and your co-worker log on at the same time and using only your mouse -- and never the search tool, log in and try to get from Subject A to [title of show]. You can also subsitute [tos] for whatever you want, but for now, let's just use [title of show]'s page.

Here's an example of each page change...

Tonight I was reading about the Flash comic book villain, Captaing Boomerang.
I clicked to his son's page, the second Captain Boomerang.
I clicked to young Cap's girlfriend, Supergirl.
I clicked to Superman from Supergir's page.
I clicked to the musical, It's a Bird, It's a Plane It's Superman.
I clicked to Cheyenne Jackson who just did a reading of that.
I clicked to Altar Boyz.
I clicked to the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
I clicked to [title of show].

Try it at home or on the clock while you're at work so you'll get paid to play!

I present the following challenge. I'll give everyone until midnight on Saturday to tell me how quickly and how they got from Cal Ripken, Jr. to [title of show] in Wikiclicks. I just invented that word, so if it catches on - you heard it hear first!!

Play Ball!

[title of show] would like to dim the lights on the blog for a very special person and champion of our show.

Sadly, Amy Sullivan, executive director of the O'Neill Center, passed away Sunday. We were so fortunate to get the chance to be with her as we developed our little show at the O'Neill. She showed such kindness, generosity, support and enthusiasm,not just for our show, but for us as artists and human beings.

A truly kind and graceful woman, whose actions influenced our lives very directly. She started back up the Cabaret portion of the O'Neill. Those were the weeks we got to go and work on [tos] after Michael Bush accepted us to the conference with the help of our producers Kevin and Laura. The show really came to life and found itself at the O'Neill. So thank you Amy for your vision and contributions to this art form, and for creating a place where Jeff and I could become artists. I think you made the world a better place.

Thanks.

Thanks to Tosser Randy who sent this clip in. It's so very weird. I want to know who directed this. The performances are amazingly restrained, with the exception of Punky Brewster's performance, which is exquisitely embroidered.

Thanks, Randy!

buttholes. We all have one. Actually Susan changed that phrase to "like a bag of powder-sugar buttholes" I'm not sure how that came about but I like it because it is specific. So let's do this people. Last night continues my love/hate relationship with the Antoinette Perry Awards. Holy balls that show makes me spike emotionally but I am going to go on record on this blog and demand a revolution. Let me begin by saying I don't know jack shit shit about how an awards show is put together. I fully respect the loooooooooong ass hours people put in to make last night happen, and I'm talking from the producer to the interns and PA's who have to run and get "inset thing needed here". But, people I love the theatre soooo hardcore and when the one special night where we get to have an awards talent/show and it looks lame, I must blog. So with full respect I would like to call for change. I feel like last night's show is an example of trying to serve too many masters. Again my made up opinion, but last night feels like what happens when you want to be all things to all people. The theatre community is divided: young/old/old fashioned/new ideas. Prob mix in CBS and what their needs are: advertising, ratings numbers, agenda. Mix in the needs of the shows nominated and the ones that aren't: Who gets to perform? How long? When? First hour? During the Sopranos? Can we say fuck? Can Pirate Queen or Legally Blonde get some time? Then a dash of we need to respect Chita and Ben V and Angela L but the kids want to see Usher and Fantasia. All of it. Lots o' people to please and serve. I get it. But people we have to find a way to get along and make some choices so the show doesn't suck. Here are my humble thoughts and observations.

1. Eliminate all descriptions of categories. For example, I don't need kick ass people to come out and read some boring ass copy like, "The director's job is to inspire and combine elements of inspiration for the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." Please cut this. I know what a director is and so does all of america.

2.Make sure all production values and the look and feel of the show are current. Introducing the presenters using that headshot/reveal gimick was awesome....in 1983. (although special shout out to M Berresse for voice over work)

3. Don't put Ben Vereen near the end of the show in that 10:50 slot when you need to cut off at 11 sharp. I think he is gifted but possibly a touch crazzle and may not adhere to time limit rules.

4. Let Sutton present. Why the hell not. My feeling is let's start with the premise no one is watching. Maybe low expectations, but a place to start. So let's say we are shooting to get a new demographic so we want to lure people with "stars." I just think it is weird to think that having Ann Heche will make this huge difference in the numbers. So I kind of vote for 9 people's favorite thing. Maybe try to make it the coolest muscial theatre scene show and then others will stumble and watch. Right now it seems like in trying to get a bigger audience, they re still not watching and your built in fan base just gets bummed we have to watch the 8th replacement Sally Bowles. Newsflash, Sutton is hot! If frat boys are flipping through the TV and saw her, they would watch.

5. I love Tommy Tune. Legend. Talent. I don't want him to talk and sing a song with his head cropped at the botton of the frame while we do a slide show of who we lost this year. We need to find a better way to present this. And I am sad we lost Betty C this year.

6. We aren't the Oscars, Emmy's or MTV awards. Let't not try to be. Spring A rocked and it was all theatre people. MTV awards wish they could have a number like Spring A did last night. That was all straight up Tony s people and they didn't need a star or the cast of Big Brother. It was just smart and creative and new and I bet you an Obie Award any one flipping through at that moment stopped to watch that, and Christine E, and Mary Poppins, because it was us doing what we do best...what we love. Not trying to second guess what America might want to watch or what is in or hip. What is in and hip is what is smart and funny and good, and people can smell it a mile away when you are trying to fool them or get them to watch. And that includes the theatre lover in Iowa, or in a trailer in Georgia. They love the theatre because they love the theatre. They have the internet. The can download Grey Gardens on i-tunes, they read the chat boards. People are smart. They don't need to be told that "even my favorite movie and TV stars got their start in the theatre." Stop using that as a pitch. Make your awards show smart and classy and funny. Get Seth Rudetsky to write the show. Creation Nation. Jeff and I can throw in a few zingers. Suprise me. Remind me why I love this art form soooo much. Why I baked a cake in the shape of a Tony award. Why the memory of Angela hosting brings goose pimples to my arm. Maybe it was kick ass when I was younger because I was younger, but I still believe so much in this art form and I want the night we celebrate it to be awesome and non-sucky. And that is the night the lights went out in Georgia. Whew! (end of my Julia Sugarbaker speech)

Side note:

Julia: Excuse me, aren't you Marjorie Leigh Winnick, the current Miss Georgia World?
Marjorie: Why, yes I am.
Julia: I'm Julia Sugarbaker, Suzanne Sugarbaker's sister. I couldn't help over hearing part of your conversation.
Marjorie: Well, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was here.
Julia: Yes, and I gather from your comments there are a couple of other things you don't know, Marjorie. For example, you probably didn't know that Suzanne was the only contestant in Georgia pageant history to sweep every category except congeniality, and that is not something the women in my family aspire to anyway. Or that when she walked down the runway in her swimsuit, five contestants quit on the spot. Or that when she emerged from the isolation booth to answer the question, "What would you do to prevent war?" she spoke so eloquently of patriotism, battlefields and diamond tiaras, grown men wept. And you probably didn't know, Marjorie, that Suzanne was not just any Miss Georgia, she was the Miss Georgia. She didn't twirl just a baton, that baton was on fire. And when she threw that baton into the air, it flew higher, further, faster than any baton has ever flown before, hitting a transformer and showering the darkened arena with sparks! And when it finally did come down, Marjorie, my sister caught that baton, and 12,000 people jumped to their feet for sixteen and one-half minutes of uninterrupted thunderous ovation, as flames illuminated her tear-stained face! And that, Marjorie - just so you will know - and your children will someday know - is the night the lights went out in Georgia!

Ok enough of all that.

How bout them Sopranos?

And Billy Eichner...

(Parental Advisory: If you don't like the cussing, this might not be for you)

Last night, Hunter, Jeff and I hauled it over to Ars Nova to check out Dixie's Tupperware Party. I had found the NYTimes story quite interesting because a performer had found such a productive way to marry artistic development and wage-earning. So very clever.

Imagine my surprise when, before the show, THE Dixie Longate introduced herself and then said, "Did you spend some time in Dayton, Ohio? Let's chat after the show..."

Mysterioso!

We had a really wonderful time at the show. It's smartly directed by Alex Timbers (I want to work with you, dude) and stylishly designed (Jeff Croiter, are you ever not lighting something? Jesus, man! Get some sleep). I was completely open to the idea of a drag, interactive Tupperware party, but I was giddily surprised by the quality of the writing and the character. We laughed heartily throughout and tucked many of Dixie's little witties into our joke caddy for later use.

After the show, we waited around for Dixie. It was quite a hang because people were getting their Tupperware on (and who can blame them...that Dixie is a very persuasive saleslady). Turns out Dixie and I went to undergrad together in Dinkus McGinkus, Ohio (small world). She reminded me of the time that during mandatory auditions for A CHORUS LINE, I sang the theme song to National Geographic. (I had completely forgotten about that one. Let's face it, we all knew I wasn't gonna get cast in ACL, but we all had to show up and "hone" our "craft"*. Snar har.)

Dixie and I will be seeing each other soon to catch up. Plus I've got my eye on a cake carrier, a set of collapsible bowls and a can opener that we simply MUST have. See for yourself!

Now, run over to Ars Nova and check out Dixie before July 1st!

*****************

*Speaking of honing our crafts, last week, we went to see our director Michael Berresse at the 92nd Street Y. He was participating in a panel discussion arranged by the Actors Fund on The Life of an Actor (featuring Harvey Fierstein, Tonya Pinkins and Christian Hoff). What do all those actors have in common? They've worked consistently since they were youngies (i.e.: no offices or Tupperware for them). We gave Michael the following challenge: The judges would score him negatively for using any James Lipton-y phrases as "craft", "hone", "the work", "the process", "the piece", "training" and/or "genius". The judges would award him merits for using the following: defenestrate, poppers, elephant, jingoist and/or dingbat. Double bonus points awarded if he could incorporate all merit words in one anecdote. Final score: -1. Thanks for playing, Michael! Better luck next time!

We've all had cell phones long enough now that I imagine we've each had at least once incindent of a horrifyingly and badly-timed ring. My moment -- hands down -- was when I was sitting 2nd row center at the 10 year anniversary concert of Violet at Playwrights Horizons. At the penultimate QUIET scene with Lauren Ward and Michael McElroy (it was a scene/not a song - so no hiding behind orchestrations) my cell phone rang! Here's how it went down:

The lines are the monologue in my head which matched my subtle facial expressions:

Ring one:
Holy fuck! My cell phone is ringing. Don't move! Don't move. Holy shit...what the fuck? Oh my God...I'm dying inside.
Ring two:
(pretending it's not mine) Can you believe someone's cell phone is ringing? How rude. (not pretending) Holy god, please don't stop ringing. (pretending again) Ridiculous.
Ring three:
(stomping on my back pack) Stop fucking ringing! Don't bend down or the whole audience behind you will know it's yours. Just keep stomping and you'll destroy the phone and no one will ever know.Ring four:
(Still stomping and obvious to everyone that it was mine). Oh my god, why won't you stop...The whole world hates me...I'm the worst person that has ever lived...I've ruined everything on the planet by not turning my cell phone off.....(stops ringing, I continue to breathe heavily for the remainder of the show)

I can't tell you how much this moment destroyed me for about a month. It still makes me hot.

So yesterday during the voir dire, we were all of course instructed to turn our cell phones off before entering the court room. Don't worry - this isn't about me...it's someone else's sad story. Anyway, I was one of the jury folks selected for questioning and I'm on in the box with my 11 other potential jurors - all of us pretending to be stupid/blind/deaf/racist/opinionated -- whatever we think it takes so we don't get picked. All of us scared of the baliffs and suit-wearin' law folk and all of us being all serious and shit.

And during one of the questions by the DA, this WHOLE cell phone ring happens:


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Jeffrey Bowen, Come on Down!

Jun 06, 2007 by Jeff | Add comment

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Last Week

Jun 05, 2007 by Susan | Add comment

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You're Totally Fucked.

Jun 05, 2007 by Hunter | Add comment

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I gots to have a new blog damnit! or Who the fuck is Eve Best?

Jun 04, 2007 by Hunter | Add comment

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John John

Jun 02, 2007 by Susan | Add comment

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